Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
They'd do better to remove those. If it's busy enough for them to be needed, standing space is more useful.
They'd do better to remove those. If it's busy enough for them to be needed, standing space is more useful.
There were three other people in my coach on a 3-coach 178 from Newport to Hereford today. Sometimes I wish travel was always like that!
178 ?
The no standing was one of the suggested regulations that TfW listed for transport operators. Whilst they could force TfW Wales to implement it I'm not aware of any bus operators that bothered (or any that are checking to make sure that their passengers avoided running at any point on their journey to the bus stop!).Standing on public transport is no longer permitted in Wales except as required to enter and leave a vehicle. (OK - exaggeration - I don't think it's illegal, but operators are told not to permit it).
But I think people have been known to sit on such seats even when there is space, and you can see why that wouldn't be wanted now.
The no standing was one of the suggested regulations that TfW listed for transport operators. Whilst they could force TfW Wales to implement it I'm not aware of any bus operators that bothered (or any that are checking to make sure that their passengers avoided running at any point on their journey to the bus stop!).
Never has a username been more apt for a post...Living just under a mile into Wales in Rossett the differences between the Welsh and English lockdowns are very apparent and not a little bizarre.
Most of Wrexham headed to Chester on the beers the weekend pubs reopened and apparently the trains were full and standing well into the night. The Grosvenor Arms in Pulford (literally metres over the border into England) has been rammed most nights with thirsty drinkers from the local Welsh villages.
ArrIva buses are now starting to tweet that they are looking forward to welcoming customers back on board, but the sapphire service from Chester to Wrexham is only running once per hour rather than every 12 minutes and finishes by 6pm rather than running through til 11.30 as usual so is next to useless. Customers questioning the tweet are being told that they can’t go back to a normal service due to funding not being available from welsh government (Pinned tweet @arrivabuswales if you want to see the interaction).
i cant say which approach is right, but on a personal level Drakeford is purposely trying to points score against the english at every opportunity. I‘m sure if he had his way Wales would just be allowed to furlough the whole population and go to sleep til this is a distant memory. The welsh tourist economy is desperate to safely open up to try and save whatever is left - his letting hospitality have the last three weeks of the summer holidays almost smacks of sarcasm.
Living just under a mile into Wales in Rossett the differences between the Welsh and English lockdowns are very apparent and not a little bizarre.
Most of Wrexham headed to Chester on the beers the weekend pubs reopened and apparently the trains were full and standing well into the night. The Grosvenor Arms in Pulford (literally metres over the border into England) has been rammed most nights with thirsty drinkers from the local Welsh villages.
ArrIva buses are now starting to tweet that they are looking forward to welcoming customers back on board, but the sapphire service from Chester to Wrexham is only running once per hour rather than every 12 minutes and finishes by 6pm rather than running through til 11.30 as usual so is next to useless. Customers questioning the tweet are being told that they can’t go back to a normal service due to funding not being available from welsh government (Pinned tweet @arrivabuswales if you want to see the interaction).
i cant say which approach is right, but on a personal level Drakeford is purposely trying to points score against the english at every opportunity. I‘m sure if he had his way Wales would just be allowed to furlough the whole population and go to sleep til this is a distant memory. The welsh tourist economy is desperate to safely open up to try and save whatever is left - his letting hospitality have the last three weeks of the summer holidays almost smacks of sarcasm.
As far as the bus industry is concerned I think the intention is to starve operators of passengers, revenue and support so they are forced into agreeing to a franchise system where politicians decide what services should be run. Personally, I don't think they'll do a better job than the managers with decades if experience.
The Llangollen Railway reopens on the 1st August for Key Workers and essential journeys between Llangollen and Carrog running non-stop and turning round after 20 minutes and coming straight back.
I've heard few compliants that in London the buses all run to the wrong places, but in any case I presume there would be nothing preventing them from getting some of the said managers to use their experience.
I believe for the TFW Rail franchise the government took the view that they didn't want to be prescriptive because they weren't the experts, so set a very high level set of requirements and left the bidders to see what they came up with.
Meanwhile we're now at the end of the first week of school holidays here and there's still no suggestion that before school starts again there will be any change to the government view that everyone without access to a car should stay at home.
I agree wholeheartedly with you on the 'cruel rule' (to borrow a phrase from the Welsh Tories) that prevents those who can't drive through age or disability or can't afford a car having a day out.
I've Tweeted the Labour and opposition MSs in my region about it but the only one who responded was the Brexit one who didn't think there should still be any sort of lockdown.
(I drove to spend the day with my Mum in her house in England the other day and used the loo while I was there. I'm not sure whether I broke any Welsh Government rules).
(I've seen similar in Covid risk assessments, e.g. telling people to disinfect tools before handing them to someone else, which few people are actually going to do and shouldn't need doing anyway so long as they wash their hands before touching their face or eating etc...)
They wont be selling one-way tickets either. I assume anybody cavalier enough to actually get off at Carrog and make a run for it will be identified to the Police and returned to Llangollen after being informed how important it is to ensure transport isn't available to people who havent got cars.The Llangollen Railway reopens on the 1st August for Key Workers and essential journeys between Llangollen and Carrog running non-stop and turning round after 20 minutes and coming straight back.
Looking at taking advantage of the Travelodge "extra night free" offer (as mentioned on the Special Offers thread)...
...but unsure whether to book any in Wales due to this ongoing situation. Looking at week commencing 3rd August, also w/com 24th August, plus various dates beyond then. Travel is available up to end of November but the offer has to be booked by midnight tonight. Do I chance it (as I did to Weymouth and back via Newport this week, with no problems encountered) or is it likely to be tightened up rather than relaxed? I know that's a question to which no answer other than a guess is currently possible!
They wont be selling one-way tickets either. I assume anybody cavalier enough to actually get off at Carrog and make a run for it will be identified to the Police and returned to Llangollen after being informed how important it is to ensure transport isn't available to people who havent got cars.
Thought the rule on Monday was public transport not in shops? Thought Wales hadn't yet announced anything about facemasks in shops? I'm prepared to be corrected on that one.Tesco (in Wales at least) seem to have relaxed their disinfection regime.
Instead of Tesco staff doing the trolley cleaning and inviting you to take one from a prepared set, it's now self-service (disinfectant provided) so at your risk.
The one-way systems in store seem to have gone too, also distancing advice is not specific any more.
Hopefully the railway will follow.
Definitely more face coverings worn in store today (including me), anticipating the Welsh rule change on Monday.
The new hazard is my glasses misting up all the time...
Thought the rule on Monday was public transport not in shops? Thought Wales hadn't yet announced anything about facemasks in shops? I'm prepared to be corrected on that one.
Did Drakeford not say it was to be consistent with the other nations of the UK?I'm not sure what the reasoning is for making masks compulsory on public transport - unfortunately it doesn't appear be so that the 2 m rule can be relaxed.
Did Drakeford not say it was to be consistent with the other nations of the UK?
Did Drakeford not say it was to be consistent with the other nations of the UK?
Simplicity and consistency with England, bearing in mind that many buses and trains cross the border
Actually, I'm not sure I follow that.
If Wales wasn't recommending face coverings, or was recommending against them, I'd see a problem.
But given that everyone is asked to wear them in both Wales and England, I don't see that it's too big a deal if it's only an actual criminal offence for part of the journey. The only people who can enforce it are the police, and if the police can cope with a completely different legal system on the two sides of the English/Scottish border, I would have thought this would be something they could manage.
Stagecoach South Wales said:Social distancing on the bus:
- Only one person can sit in a double seat, unless you’re with a member of your household or social bubble.
- You must sit diagonal to the person in the row in front and behind. You should leave the seat behind and next to them empty.
- Please leave the seat behind the driver free and any seats facing each other
- You will also notice posters on the bus with guidance on how to social distance while on the bus. See here for another on bus example poster.
- If you’re physically able to use the top deck of the bus please do as this keeps seats free on the lower deck for people who are unable to use the stairs.
- Don't stand on the bus.
- No newspapers
- Don't leave litter, take it with you and dispose of it responsibly
- Don't touch litter or lost property on the bus
- Don't consume food or drink (except on medical grounds)
- Once you’re on the bus open a window, if you can, to help with ventilation.
- Travel in relative silence, no singing or talking on mobile phones
- When leaving the bus stay seated, ring the bell and take everything with you.
- Let us know if you think your bus is too busy to allow for social distancing.
- See Welsh Government guidance on how to travel safely on public transport
Bus Seating Plan
Oh dear, they seem to have capitulated to Cloud Cuckoo Land's guidance...Drakeford's words, not mine.
Stagecoach are changing their rules from Monday. In particular, capacity will increase from less than 25% to nearly 50% of seats.
I see they've gone for the Welsh full list! No newspapers, singing, talking. And, worst of all, no touching litter!Stagecoach are changing their rules from Monday. In particular, capacity will increase from less than 25% to nearly 50% of seats.